Wishes pour in as Rahul turns 48

Congress president Rahul Gandhi yesterday turned 48 and several senior party leaders visited his mother Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath to greet him.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and political leaders across the country also wished him.Former president Pranab Mukherjee, in a tweet to wish Gandhi, said he had “an unparalleled legacy of nation building behind you and an outstanding responsibility in the future”. Thanking Mukherjee, Gandhi said: “Thank you Pranab Da for your wishes and kind words. I appreciate them.”West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also wished Gandhi in a tweet.Party supporters and workers got into a celebratory mood, dancing to the beat of drums in the morning outside the Congress office on Akbar Road here.There were similar scenes outside 10 Janpath, where Youth Congress members led the celebrations. They also went inside to meet Rahul Gandhi.Among the leaders visiting Sonia Gandhi’s residence were former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Randeep Surjewala, P C Chacko, Ajay Maken, Sushmita Dev and most of the steering committee members including A K Antony, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot, Motilal Vora, Mukul Wasnik, Sushilkumar Shinde and others.This is Rahul Gandhi’s first birthday after becoming the party president.Greeting him, Modi tweeted: “Birthday greetings to Congress president Rahul Gandhi. I pray for his long and healthy life.”National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said: “Here’s wishing Rahul Gandhi a very happy 48th birthday. May the almighty bless you with good health, much success & many more years in the service of the nation.”